Episcopal church, others in Morristown land county grants for restoration

MORRISTOWN - The Morris County Freeholders on Wednesday, June 27 approved spending $2.5 million to help preserve 25 historic sites in 16 municipalities. Funding came at the recommendation of county’s Historic Preservation Trust Fund Review Board.

A total of 27 of 38 projects were approved, 11 for construction or restoration projects and 16 for nonconstruction projects, which might include acquisition and the development of plans for preservation.

The largest grant went to the Episcopal Church in Morristown, which received a $428,134 construction grant to preserve the church’s tower built in 1907-08.

According to officials, when the tower was built, a relatively new technique at the time was used that set up the exterior stone together with an inside wood form and the concrete was poured between the two.

Other local grants included Acorn Hall, Morristown, which was awarded a $129,128 grant for exterior restoration.

According to the grant approval, Acorn Hall is a well-preserved example of a Victorian Italianate-style residence built in 1853. Currently owned by the Morris County Historical Society and operated as a house museum, it is individually listed on the Historic Register. Previous grants assisted with painting and stabilization of bay windows. This grant would assist with exterior restoration, including roof drainage.

The Church of the Redeemer Parish house in Morristown will see a $130, 246 for restoration.

The Church of the Redeemer’s Parish House was constructed in 1926 in the Gothic Revival style. The building is a contributing structure in the Morristown Historic District. Previous grants assisted with front facade restoration. This grant would provide for exterior restoration of the south elevation including granite, terracotta, doors and windows.

The Church of the Redeemer also received $21,160 for preservation of its contract documents,

The 1917 stone Gothic Revival Church was designed by the New York architectural firm of Parish & Schroeder. It is a key resource in the Morristown Historic District listed on the Historic Register, according to the grant approval. Previous grants have assisted with a Preservation Plan and narthex roof replacement. This grant would complete construction documents for restoration of the tower and main roof.

The Presbyterian Church in Morristown received $183,080 for roof restoration.

The 1893 Romanesque Revival sanctuary is contributing to the Morristown Historic District and the site has an individual Certificate of Eligibility for listing on the New Jersey and National Registers, according to the grant approval. Previous grants assisted with a master plan for the church complex, chimney stabilization. This grant would provide for restoration of chapel flat roof and the church building air shaft.

The Schuyler-Hamilton House preservation plan in Morristown was granted $6,760.

The circa 1760 house represents one of the few remaining houses of the period, according to the grant application. The house has a Certificate of Eligibility for the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places. Previous grants assisted with a Preservation Plan, structural repairs and rear roof work. This grant would provide for completion of Construction Documents for interior restoration including finishes, building systems.

Preservation Trust Director Ray Chang said the total number of applications received was the highest since the program began in 2003. And, the applications requested more than $4.7 million, which was twice as much as was available this year, Chang said.

Other grants went to the Community of St. John Baptist Church in Mendham Township, the Ralston Cider Mill in Mendham Township, Craftsman Farms in Parsippany, the Roxbury Historic Trust, the Oscar A. Kincaid Home of History in Boonton Township, the Butler Railroad Station; the First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon; the First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon, the L’Ecole Kinnelon Museum, the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts in Madison; the Bridget Smith House in Mine Hill, the Seward House in Mount Olive; Waterloo Village; the J. Smith Richardson History House in Parsippany and the Glenburn House in Riverdale.

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